Cymbal device



Sept. 8, 1964 R. F. PADERA CYMBAL DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1961 INV ENTOR. Rober aderaf.

United States Patent 3,147,661 v CYMBAL DEVICE Robert F. Padera, Harwood Heights, lll., assignor to Slingerland Drum Co., a partnership Filed Aug. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 133,239 Claims. (Cl. 84-422) This invention relates to musical instruments and in particular to foot operated cymbal devices.

To permit maximum freedom of movement by a drummer in the space surrounding the drum set, it is desirable to provide a cymbal device having a base support member which extends substantially flush with the floor to carry an upright tubular support. The use of such a flush mounted base support, however, has heretofore required the use of a side pull for operating the cymbal from the footboard, or pedal, of the device. More specifically, a pull rod is conventionally provided in such cymbal devices extending downwardly from the upper cymbal to a connector Iat a point intermediate the ends of the tubular support. The side pull extends radially outwardly from the connector through the wall of the tubular support and a strap or the like is connected between the external portion of the side pull and the footboard. In another form of cymbal device, the base support member comprises a tripod device which, while having the disadvantage of 0ccupying a substantial space at the bottom of the device, permits the tubular support to terminate above the floor and, thus, allows the pull rod to' extend completely downwardly through the tubular support to be connected directly to the footboard, thereby eliminating the relatively complicated 'and costly side pull and providing a substantially facilitated pull of the cymbal.

The present invention comprehends a new and improved cymbal device providing each of the desirable advantages of the direct pull action of the conventional tripod supported cymbal devices and the free space provision of the flush base supported cymbal devices.

Thus, the yprincipal feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved cymbal device.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a cymbal device arranged to provide a direct pull of the movable cymbal, with the base support comprising a flush base support providing effectively maximum free space at the bottom of the cymbal device.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a cymbal device including a base post, support means extending along a base plane for supporting the post to extend vertically upwardly from the base plane, a tubular carrier having a lower end and an upper end, a connector carried by the post and supporting the carrier to have its axis spaced parallel to the axis of the post with the lower end spaced substantially above the base plane, cymbal means at the upper end of the carrier, a pedal subjacent the lower end of the carrier, and operating means extending longitudinally through the carrier and having an upper portion connected to the cymbal means and a lower portion extending downwardly through the lower end of the carrier and connected to the pedal.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of such a cymbal device having a new and improved connector for supporting the tubular carrier on the upper end of the base post.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a cymbal device wherein the connector is provided with anti-friction means for improved direct pull action of the cymbal.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cymbal device embodying the invention;

3,147,661 Patented Sept. 8, 1964 FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a cymbal device generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a foot operated device having a pair of relatively movable conventional cymbals 11 and 12. The lower cymbal 12 is supported by the uppery end 13 of a tubular carrier generally designated 14 through which coaxially extends a center rod 15 connected to the top cymbal 11 by a positive clutch 16. The tubular carrier includes an upper portion 17 and a lower portion 18 adjustably coaxially connected by a clutch 19, clutch wing bolt 20 and wool bearing 21 retained in position on center rod 15 by means of a retaining ring 22 carried by the center rod. A second retaining ring 23 is spaced axially below the retaining ring 22 on center rod 15 to retain a backup washer 24 maintaining a coil spring 25, concentrically surrounding the lower end 26 of the center rod 15, under compression to retain yieldably the top cymbal 11 in the position of FIG. l.

The lower end 27 of the lower tubular carrier portion 18 is secured by means of a connector 28 to the upper end 29 of a base post 30. The lower end 31 of the base post 30 is received in a socket 32 of a ush base 33 provided with Ia pair of radial arms 34 and a radial footboard support 35.

The connector 28 includes a downwardly opening recess 36 having a snug fit with the upper end 29 of the base post 30. The connector 28 further includes a stepped bore 37 including an upper portion 38, a reduced diameter lower portion 39 and a radial shoulder 40 between portions 38 and 39. The diameter of upper portion 38 is preferably such that the lower end 27 of the lower carrier portion 18 fits snugly therein to have its lower end seat on the radial shoulder 40. A bushing 41 is provided with an upper diametrically enlarged portion 42 seating on the shoulder 40 and a tubular lower portion 43 extending downwardly through the reduced diameter portion 39 of the bore 37. The bushing is provided with an axial bore 44 through which the lower end of the center rod 15 extends.V The bushing is preferably formed of a low friction material such as nylon to facilitate the reciprocal movement of the center rod 15 therein. Further, as best seen in FIG. 3, the upper portion 42 of the bushing serves as a retaining means for the lower end of the compression spring 25.

Operation of the cymbal device is effected by means of a footboard, or pedal, 45 having one end pivotally connected to a heel stop 46 fxedly secured Ito the distal end of support 35. The other end of the footboard is connected by means of a strap 47 to an eye 48 threadedly connected to a connector 49 which is threadedly secured to the lower end of the center rod 15 extending downwardly from bushing 42. As best seen in FIG. 3, in the uppermost position of center rod 15, the connector 49 abuts the lower end of the bushing 42.

Thus, cymbal device 10 provides an improved arrangement wherein the reciprocation of the center rod 15 to control the upper cymbal 11 is effected by a direct vertical pull while yet effectively maximum space is provided at the base of the device for improved freedom of the user. The axially offset arrangement of the tubular carrier 18 and the base post 30 is provided in a novel and simple manner by means of connector 28. The connector further provides an improved center rod guide action and spring retention for the control-of the cymbal 11. Further, in addition to providing an improved guiding action of the lower end of the center rod, the bushing 41 effectively eliminates undesirable noise resulting from the movement of the center rod therein.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, i-t is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A foot operated cymbal device comprising: a base post; support means extending along a plane for supporting the post to extend upwardly substantially from the plane; a tubular carrier having a lower end and an upper end; a connector carried by the post and supporting the carrier to have its axis generally upright and spaced laterally of the post with said lower end spaced substantially above said plane thereby to define a space below the lower end of said carrier fully open on at least three sides thereof vadapted to receive the toe por-tion of a users foot; cymbal means at said upper end of the carrier; a footboard having an end portion vertically subjacent said lower end of the carrier; and operating means extending longitudinally through said carrier and having an upper portion connected to said cymbal means `and a lower portion extending downwardly through said lower end of the carrier and connected to said end portion of the footboard.

2. A foot operated cymbal device comprising: a base post; support means extending along a plane for supporting the post to extend upwardly substantially from the Y plane; a tubular carrier having a lower end and an upper end; a connector carried by the post and supporting the carrier to haveV its axis generally upright and spaced laterally of the post with said lower end spaced substan-V tially above said plane thereby to define a space below the lower end of said carrier fully open on at least three sides thereof adapted to receive the toe portion of a users foot; cymbal means at said upper end of the carrier; a footboard movably secured to said support to extend from a point spaced from the carrier axis in a direction opposite the direction of spacing of the post from said axis to vertically subjacent said lower end of the carrier; and

operating means extending longitudinally through said carrier and having an upper portion connected to said cymbal means and a lower portion extending downwardly throughl said lower end of the carrier and connected to said ootboard.

3. The cymbal device of claim l wherein the connector comprises a rigid member having a recess opening in one direction for ixedly receiving an end of one of said base post or said carrier, and a bore through the member axially parallel to said recess, said bore having a first portion opening from said member oppositely to said one direction, a second, diametrically reduced portion opening from said Vmember in' said one direction, and a radial shoulder therebetween.

4. The cymbal device of claim l wherein the connector comprises a rigid member having a recess opening in one direction for ixedly receiving an end of one of said base post or said carrier, `and a bore through the member axially parallel to said recess, said bore having a first portion opening from said member oppositely to said one direction, a second, diametrically reduced portion opening from said member in said one direction, and a radial shoulder therebetween, and a bushing having a rst portion received in said first portion of the bore and abutting said radial shoulder, and a second portion extending through said second portion of the bore, said bushing having a bore therethrough coaxially of said rigid member bore.

5. The cymbal device of claim 4 wherein said second portion of the bushing projects substantially from said rigid member.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A FOOT OPERATED CYMBAL DEVICE COMPRISING: A BASE POST; SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDING ALONG A PLANE FOR SUPPORTING THE POST OF EXTEND UPWARDLY SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE PLANE; A TUBULAR CARRIER HAVING A LOWER END AND AN UPPER END; A CONNECTOR CARRIED BY THE POST AND SUPPORTING THE CARRIER TO HAVE ITS AXIS GENERALLY UPRIGHT AND SPACED LATERALLY OF THE POST WITH SAID LOWER END SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY ABOUT SAID PLANE THEREBY TO DEFINE A SPACE BELOW THE LOWER END OF SAID CARRIER FULLY OPEN ON AT LEAST THREE SIDES THEREOF ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE TOE PORTION OF A USER''S FOOT; CYMBAL MEANS AT SAID UPPER END OF THE CARRIER; A FOOTBOARD HAVING AN END PORTION VERTICALLY SUBJACENT SAID LOWER END OF THE CARRIER; AND OPERATING MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH SAID CARRIER AND HAVING AN UPPER PORTION CONNECTED TO SAID CYMBAL MEANS AND A LOWER PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID LOWER END OF THE CARRIER AND CONNECTED TO SAID END PORTION OF THE FOOTBOARD. 